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Meet Laura’s Bike…
By Laura | August 9, 2009
Drumroll, please… I finally found some space and time to update the Gear page with info about my bike and the gear that I’m carrying! You can read the checklist there and more details below…
My touring bike of choice is a Surly Long Haul Trucker. I bought the frame, stripped the decals and custom painted some swirly vines (read about the conversion here)… and then I built her up.
I’m not really a component nut, but here’s some of the important stuff…
Jandd front rack
Jandd read rack
Brooks saddle
Kalloy 6061PG arc handlebars
Dapper Dans handlebar grips
Grip King pedals
Front panniers are by Swift Industries. The front right-side pannier holds my studio. The front left-side pannier holds the kitchen.
Rear panniers are by Ortlieb. The rear right-side pannier holds all my clothes, towel, toiletries. The rear left-side pannier holds the tent, sleeping pad, dromedary bag, first aid kit, portable speakers, and will hold food once we start rolling.
My sleeping bag is REI, circa 2002, rated to -5 degrees, and it lives on the back rack.
Front handlebar bag is by Acorn Bags and holds my journal, phone, wallet, iPod, camera (yep, I have one of those too!), etc.
Saddlebag is by Minnehaha and holds my spare tubes, patch kit, multi-tool, tire levers, advil, chapstick and more.
Bike plus gear weighs in around 100 pounds, which is completely ridiculous, but the only way to allow me to dress the way I want to dress, eat the way I want to eat, and continue working as an artist.
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August 9th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Great bike! I think what you and Russ are doing is WAY cool!
August 10th, 2009 at 6:45 am
Wow! 100 pounds! I have huge respect for your legs, Laura!
August 10th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Wow, your paint job looks great!
If I only had talent…maybe I can talk my wife into tattooing my bike.
And 100 pounds! Just think what great physical condition you’ll be in a few weeks from now. You’ll be a bike touring machine, grrrr!
Jack
August 10th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
“Bike plus gear weighs in around 100 pounds, which is completely ridiculous, but the only way to allow me to dress the way I want to dress, eat the way I want to eat, and continue working as an artist.”
I love this statement! I, too, had my bike way overloaded (never weighed it, but guessing it was close to 100). As you said, it is ridiculous, but it is worth it to be comfortable and have all the gear you want to have. I met so many bike tourists during my trip, who were traveling “light and fast,” but I never regretted riding with all the weight. Keep on truckin’!